In a world that often blurs the lines between right and wrong, how can we, as followers of Christ, live lives that are truly set apart? This question lies at the heart of a powerful message found in 1 Timothy 6:11-16. These verses offer a stark contrast between the ways of the world and the path of righteousness that God calls us to follow.

The passage begins with a pivotal phrase: "But as for you, O man of God..." This transition sets the tone for what follows, emphasizing that there should be a clear distinction between those who belong to God and those who don't. It's a call to action, a reminder that we are not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Two primary commands emerge from this text: to flee and to pursue. These aren't casual suggestions but urgent imperatives for every believer. Let's explore what it means to live out these commands in our daily lives.

Fleeing from Sin and Temptation

The first command is to flee. But what exactly are we fleeing from? The context suggests we're to flee from false teachings, pride, controversies, envy, constant friction, discontentment, the love of money, and selfish cravings that lead us away from faith. In essence, we're called to flee from anything that hinders our relationship with God or leads us into sin.

This fleeing isn't a casual stroll away from temptation; it's a desperate sprint for safety. The imagery brings to mind Joseph's response when tempted by Potiphar's wife. He didn't linger or try to reason with temptation – he fled, leaving even his cloak behind. That's the kind of decisive action we're called to take when faced with sin.

Pursuing Righteousness and Godliness

But fleeing sin is only half the equation. We're also commanded to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. This pursuit isn't a leisurely walk but an earnest chase, a sprint towards holiness with the same intensity we use to flee from sin.

Let's break down these virtues we're called to pursue:

1. Righteousness: This refers to doing what is right according to God's standards. It's about living out our faith through good works and obedience to God's commands.

2. Godliness: While righteousness focuses on external actions, godliness is about our internal motivations and desires. It's pursuing a heart that beats in sync with God's.

3. Faith: This is more than just belief; it's an unwavering trust in God and His Word, even when circumstances seem dire.

4. Love: Not just any love, but agape love – unconditional, sacrificial, and rooted in choice rather than fleeting emotions.

5. Steadfastness: This is about perseverance, holding firm to our faith even in the face of trials and tribulations.

6. Gentleness: Often mistaken for weakness, true gentleness is strength under control, marked by humility and kindness.

These virtues aren't meant to be pursued in isolation. They work together, each reinforcing and complementing the others. A life marked by these qualities is a life that stands out in a world often characterized by selfishness, hatred, and inconstancy.

The Journey of Faith: Not Aimless Wandering

It's crucial to understand that the Christian life isn't an aimless journey where any path will do. There's a clear, narrow road that leads to holiness, and it's marked by obedience to God's commands. Every step of obedience brings us closer to godliness, while every sin we flee from distances us from worldliness.

This journey isn't about following our own desires or emotions but about aligning our will with God's. It's a daily choice to walk by faith, not by sight, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the sufficient truth of God's Word.

Living as God's Possession

The passage reminds us that as believers, we are "men of God" – or more accurately, God's possession. This identity should fundamentally shape how we live. We're not our own; we've been bought with a price and now belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This belonging calls for a radical reorientation of our lives. We can no longer live as we once did, chasing after the things of this world. Instead, we're called to a higher purpose, to live lives that reflect the character of our God.

A Call to Self-Reflection

As we meditate on these truths, we're invited to examine our own lives. What areas do we need to flee from? What sins or distractions are we holding onto that hinder our pursuit of Christ? Conversely, how earnestly are we pursuing righteousness and godliness? Are our lives marked by faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness?

These aren't easy questions, but they're necessary ones if we're to grow in our faith and live lives that truly honor God. We're called to be ruthless in rooting out sin and wholehearted in our pursuit of holiness.

The Power to Change

It's important to remember that this transformation isn't something we can accomplish on our own. It's only possible because God has made us alive in Christ. He's given us His Holy Spirit to empower us for this transformed life.

As we pursue these godly virtues, we do so knowing that it's God who works in us, both "to will and to work for His good pleasure." Our role is to cooperate with His work in our lives, to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling," knowing that it's God who is at work within us.

A Life That Stands Out

In a world that often celebrates sin and mocks righteousness, living out these commands will make us stand out. And that's precisely the point. We're called to be salt and light, to live in such a way that others see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

As we flee from sin and pursue righteousness, we become living testimonies to the transforming power of the gospel. Our lives become beacons of hope in a dark world, pointing others to the source of true life and joy – Jesus Christ.

So let us take these words to heart. Let us flee from all that dishonors God and pursue with passion all that pleases Him. May our lives be marked by righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. And may we, like Joshua of old, be able to declare with confidence, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

12 Let no one despise you for your youth…

Paul is cautioning Timothy to not allow anyone to look down on his youthfulness. Since Paul is no longer going to be there with the people to give Timothy natural credibility, Timothy is going to have to earn it for himself. He is going to have to earn the respect of the people. And the way that he will do this is by living a life according to Scripture.

For the Greek culture, as with many other cultures, if a man did not have age, then he did not have respect. But the more age someone had, the more respect that carried. Timothy, at this point is probably mid-30’s. But Paul is probably in his 60’s, so that would be a huge different in cultural respect. In Acts 7:58, Luke calls Paul a “young man” and at that time he was probably in his mid to late 30’s. But Timothy is considered a “youthful” man.

Paul, here, is exhorting Timothy to establish credibility as a leader by “setting an example.” Note the contrast in the sentence here…

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, BUT (instead) set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

So, as a leader, the way in which to combat someone not respecting you or thinking little of you is to: Lead by example. And that is exactly what Paul is teaching Timothy here. He is exhorting him. He is bringing him back to the Biblical principles of Scripture and explaining that he can establish credibility with this church if he “sets an example.”

And he is to “set an example” to the church in 5 ways: Speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.


All types of sinful speech must be avoided by the Biblical leader. This includes any deviation from truthfulness. This includes “laying aside all falsehood…” Nothing reveals the corrupt leader’s heart like deception. The Biblical leader must not gossip or slander. The Biblical leader must not tear down or cause dissension.

Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Biblical leadership is encouragement. Biblical leadership is exhorting others to follow Christ. A Biblical leader uses his speech to build others up and to instill within their followers a confidence to press forward.

Parents, make sure that your words are building up to your children. Make sure that you are leading by example in the way that you speak. This includes the choice of words, but it also includes your tone of voice. You can tear down more with your tone of voice than you can with the words in which you speak.

Set an example in your speech.

2) A successful Biblical ministry leads in Conduct.

An excellence Biblical leader is one who models righteous living. His Biblical message is directly supported by his Godly life.

Hypocrisy damages credibility of a leader more than anything else. People will tend to follow how you live and not what you teach. So, your conduct is extremely important.

James 3:13 — “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” Your wisdom is demonstrated in the way in which you implement the teaching of Scripture to your every day life. Your conduct will demonstrate whether or not people want to listen to your wisdom.

1 Peter 3:16 — “having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” When the enemy tries to destroy the credibility of your life and your ministry, you can directly combat this with your Godly behavior — your good conduct.

So, Timothy here is to set an example in his Godly living. And he will be able to evaluate his Godly living against the Standard for Christian Living that is found in 1 Timothy 3:2-7.

Parents, the most essential — the most vital — element of your Godly living is for you to demonstrate to your children that your life is in Biblical order and you are content with this. If you are constantly fighting against the Biblical mandate of Scripture to have your life in order, then your children will follow suit. Their reaction will be to constantly turn to the left and to the right to find satisfaction elsewhere.

Biblical Conduct is righteous living with contentment.

3) A successful Biblical leader sets an example in Love.

Please understand that the Bible defines “love” as something totally and completely different than the world does. This is not relativistic love. This is not a love that is based on my own truths.

“Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends.” This is a great Biblical understanding that love is sacrificial. Love counts others more significant than yourself. Love is less concerned about self and more concerned about others.

True love of God generates a love for the church. That is why the second is like unto it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” After you love God with all of your being, you will then, as a byproduct love the church — your neighbor.

Many times while writing, Paul would talk about all that he had suffered for the sake of the church. He sacrificed his life and his own well-being for the good of the church. And a Biblical leader does the same.

Parents, truly loving your children is not allowing them to choose their own truths and a relative way of thinking. Truly loving your children is to sacrifice your life for them. This means that you have to have a disciplined parenting style. This means that you have to love your children enough to discipline them consistently, and not give into your daily fatigue. This means that you have to love your children enough to sacrifice the sinful wants and selfish desires for the good of your children.

Parents, truly loving your children is understanding who God intentionally and specifically made them to be and then sacrificing your life to meet their needs. Truly loving your children is for you to have a disciplined parenting lifestyle. Parenting that is undisciplined results in children who are undisciplined. Parenting that just allows children to go wherever they want and do whatever they want to do without any direction from a parent will result in a child who is not equipped for success.

Love your children enough to train them in discipline. Love your children enough to “command and teach” discipline in the home. And do so with much grace, mercy and long-suffering.

A Biblical leader must set an example in love.

4) A successful Biblical leader sets an example in Faith.

This isn’t saving faith. This is referring to faithfulness. It is consistency to the Christian life. It is commitment to the things of God.

A successful Biblical leader is one who is Faithful to the Word of God and to live out obedience to Scripture no matter what the adversity. Faithfulness is not turning to the left or to the right. Faithfulness is not looking for satisfaction elsewhere. Faithfulness is being unwavering in Truth and conviction and living a life that reflects the Standard of Christian Living.

To be a Faithful Biblical parent is to have a well-managed home and all that entails. You can go back to our study from 1 Timothy 3:4-5 to remind yourself of all of that.

To be a Faithful Biblical parent is to raise your children in the admonition and instruction of the Lord. It is to teach diligently the instruction of the Lord as your children are sitting in your home, walking by the way, standing alongside, lying down, rising up. It is to teach the commands of the Lord and “write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

To be a Faithful Biblical parent is to disciple your children. To be a Faithful Biblical parent is to demonstrate the importance of the local church. To be a Faithful Biblical parent is to set an example of how to worship during church.

Dads, I cannot tell you how valuable it is for your children to see you singing during the congregational singing. I cannot tell you how valuable it is for your children to see you submitting yourself to sit under the expository preaching of the Word of God. I cannot tell you how valuable it is for your children to witness you praying in the fellowship of believers.

Children who do not get to see their dad during worship are children that are not being led by example. Children who do not get to see their parents worship together are children who are not being taught the value of church.

I am so thankful that we have our children in the service with us. Your children will benefit in ways that you cannot even imagine because they are watching the way that you interact with the worship service on Sunday morning.

Successful Biblical leaders are faithful to the things of God.

5) A successful Biblical leaders sets an example in Purity.

This is specifically written in regards to sexual purity. Sexual purity includes both the actions of the individual and the intentions of the heart. Nothing ravages a pastoral ministry like sexual misconduct. Nothing ravages a family like sexual immorality.

In the first category of the Standard of Christian Living, Paul writes that the Standard of Christian Living expects for the believer to be “above reproach” and is to be a “one-woman man.” The history of the church shows us that Christian leaders are susceptible to fall in this area. Satan loves to bring men down in this regard.

But as a “youthful man” Paul is encouraging Timothy to “set an example in… sexual purity.” In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul tells Timothy to “flee from youthful lusts…”

Parents, train your kids in sexual purity. The best way to do this is to guard what they watch. They do not need to be watching grown up movies when they are children. They do not need to be seeing sexual activity on TV as children. Guard the conscience of your children. You cannot get your innocence back — once it is gone, it is gone.
So, a Biblical leader sets an example in: Speech, Conduct, Faith, Love and Purity.

In a world filled with countless voices claiming to speak truth, how can we discern what is truly of God? This question is as relevant today as it was in the early days of the church, when the Apostle Paul warned believers about the dangers of false teaching.

The book of 1 Timothy, particularly chapter 6, offers us invaluable guidance on this crucial matter. As we delve into this passage, we're confronted with a sobering reality: there is one true gospel, but many false ones. Satan, the master deceiver, doesn't limit himself to a single counterfeit. Instead, he crafts numerous alternatives, each designed to lead people astray from the narrow path that leads to life.

What makes false teaching so dangerous is its subtlety. False teachers rarely wear their deception on their sleeve. They don't advertise themselves as agents of darkness. Instead, they often look remarkably similar to genuine believers. They use familiar language, quote Scripture, and may even lead seemingly exemplary lives. This is why discernment is so crucial.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, provides us with eight key characteristics to help identify false teachers:

1. They teach a different doctrine that deviates from the true gospel.
2. They disagree with the sound words of Jesus Christ.
3. Their teaching doesn't align with godly living.
4. They are puffed up with conceit.
5. They understand nothing, despite appearances of knowledge.
6. They have an unhealthy craving for controversy.
7. They love to quarrel about words.
8. Their ministry produces negative fruit: envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction.

These characteristics serve as warning signs, red flags that should alert us to potential spiritual danger. But why are false teachers so effective? Often, it's because they appeal to our natural inclinations towards pride, selfishness, and the desire for an "easy" Christianity that doesn't require genuine transformation.

One of the most insidious lies promoted by false teachers is the idea that godliness is a means of gain. This can manifest in two dangerous ways:

1. The prosperity gospel, which teaches that following God will lead to material wealth and success.
2. A works-based salvation that reverses the order of justification and sanctification, suggesting that our godly living earns us salvation.

Both of these distortions miss the heart of the true gospel: that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Our godly living is a result of our salvation, not the cause of it.

So how do we guard ourselves against false teaching? The most crucial step is to immerse ourselves in Scripture. When we know the truth intimately, we're better equipped to recognize counterfeits. We must also be willing to step away from teaching that doesn't align with God's Word, even if it means distancing ourselves from popular voices or leaving comfortable religious environments.

It's important to note that guarding against false teaching isn't just about protecting ourselves. We have a responsibility to warn others as well. However, this should be done with grace and wisdom. Our primary focus should be on proclaiming the truth of the gospel, trusting in its power to illuminate the darkness of false teaching.

As we navigate this complex spiritual landscape, we must remember that discernment is a gift from God. We need His wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to rightly divide truth from error. This requires humility on our part, acknowledging that we too can be deceived if we rely solely on our own understanding.

The stakes in this matter are incredibly high. False teaching isn't just a matter of intellectual disagreement; it has eternal consequences. It can lead people away from the true faith, causing them to miss the saving grace of Jesus Christ. This is why Paul speaks so forcefully about the issue, and why we must take it seriously in our own lives and communities.

Yet, in the face of this sobering reality, we have hope. The true gospel of Jesus Christ is more powerful than any counterfeit. When we cling to the truth, live it out in our daily lives, and proclaim it boldly, we become beacons of light in a world of spiritual confusion.

Let us commit ourselves anew to guarding the precious truth of the gospel. May we be diligent in studying God's Word, discerning in our evaluation of teaching, and courageous in standing for truth. And may we do all of this with hearts full of love – for God, for His truth, and for those who may be led astray.

Reflect on these powerful words from Scripture:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

This reminder puts our pursuit of godliness in the right frame of mind. Our greatest gain is not found in material wealth or worldly success, but in growing in Christlikeness and finding our satisfaction in Him alone. May this truth anchor our souls as we navigate the challenges of discerning truth in a world full of deception.

We must “train ourselves for Godliness.” To do this, we must be nourished in the Word of God. This is your food and drink. In this nourishment, you should find much satisfaction. And if you are truly finding all of your nourishment in Scripture alone, then your spiritual life will result in a well-disciplined life.

Think about an athlete who is being pushed by his coach and by his trainer to eat and drink only the best things for his body. Day after day, month after month, the athlete is getting stronger from the training, but his body is not changing that much. His physique isn’t developing properly. And the trainer is totally confused. The trainer asks the athlete once again to go over his diet. And the athlete tells him all of these great things that he is putting into his body. And the trainer is still confused.

Finally, the trainer says: I know you are eating all of these good things, but have you stopped eating candy and cake and drinking Coke? Come to find out that the athlete had been sneaking all of these foods and drinks that were bad for him in the middle of the night. So, his body wasn’t changing the way it needed to change and the way it would have changed if he would have put off the bad stuff.

So, physically, he might have been getting stronger, because he was lifting weights, but his conditioning and endurance were not getting any better because of how he was nourishing his body. 

In our spiritual life, we can read the Bible and grow in head knowledge, but if we are not putting off the old man, then we will not be growing in our steadfastness and our ability to withstand the winds and the waves of this world. Someone can fool you that they are a Christian because of what they know, but if their life is not changing and their reaction to the things of this world is not changing it is because they have not actually put off the old man — you will know them by their fruits.

Ultimately, the reason that the athlete in our example didn’t change was because he didn’t want to. He was not devoted to the goal with all of his being. He was not totally sold out on the finished product. He was not all in. It didn’t matter how much his parents wanted it for him. It didn’t matter how much his coach pushed him. He didn’t change because he wasn’t changed.

There are many times that we can look to our own lives and year after year wonder why in the world are we still struggling with the same sin…?

We wonder why our life isn’t changing. We wonder why someone is still not fully devoted to Christ or to the bride of Christ. We wonder why someone is not actually growing in the faith. They might be growing in head knowledge — the same way that someone can learn from watching documentaries or reading books — but there is no actual change.

And the answer is because you want your selfishness. That answer is because you do not want to put off the old man. The answer is because you have still not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is evidence of an unchanged spiritual life.

The Apostle John says that continual sin is evidence of an unbeliever. The reality is that you aren’t changing because you aren’t changed. Your Godliness isn’t changing because your heart is not changed.

If you are looking to your life today and evaluating your Godliness, it does you no good to keep lying to your coach. Just trying to be morally better one day than the next is never going to benefit your eternal soul. Your heart must be changed. You must choose to devote yourself to “loving the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.” This includes putting off all the things that are bad for you. This includes repenting of your sin — turning from your sin.

To train yourself for Godliness is not only to nourish yourself with Scripture and with Doctrine. It also includes exercising — disciplining your spiritual life. It includes self-control. It includes being resolved to live for Christ. It includes being sober-minded. It includes having your life in order according to the standard of Christian living. You must have spiritual self-discipline if you want to live a Godly life. It is important to be disciplined and trained in the Truth!

So, let us resolve ourselves to be “trained for Godliness.”  In doing this, we will find much profit in our temporary life on this earth. And in doing this, we will glorify God in our life eternal. A life of Godliness is how we truly honor God in life and in death.

God, make me poorer, that I might rely on your provision.

God, make me lonely, that I might cherish your friendship.

God, make me unsatisfied with media, that I might long to be captivated by your goodness.

God, make me less charismatic, that people might see less of me and more of you.

God, give me less cultural knowledge, that I might be dependent on your wisdom.

God, give me less earthly beauty, that Your majesty might shine more purely through me.

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95:3

The Greatness of God is not dependent on how much money you have in your bank account.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on your health.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on your employment.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on your emotional status.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on your feelings toward God.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on your marriage.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on your children’s well-being.

The Greatness of God is not dependent on any thought or idea that you have about Him.

The fact is that the Lord our God is a Great God. And His Greatness is dependent on nothing. His Holiness is dependent on no one. He just is.

He is Great in your life right now.

He is Great in your bank account right now.

He is Great in your marriage right now.

He is Great in your health right now.

He is Great in your children’s well-being right now.

There is NOTHING that you can say or think or do that will change the fact that our God is a Great God.

You don’t give Him permission to be Great.

You don’t give Him authority in your life to be Great.

You don’t “let Him into your heart” to be Great.

The proper response is to submit to His Greatness.

We are to behold His Holiness.

Holy is He!

The fourth stanza of the 119th Psalm is once again centered on the sufficiency of Scripture. The Psalmist is confessing his sin with a penitent heart, making a turn from his transgression to once again walk according to the Word of God. As with every stanza in Psalm 119, the psalmist understands that Scripture is totally sufficient for Justification and Sanctification. We do not need a “fresh word from God,” because “His mercies are new every morning.”

25 My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!

The psalmist rightfully begins with the realization that his soul is unsatisfied with the things of God. This is an internal recognition of the reason for transgressing against God. We sin because we choose to be unsatisfied with His goodness. And therefore, he says that his “soul clings to the dust.” Meaning, he is getting caught up in the things of this world. He is struggling to “put off” the worldly things around him. And here, we can see that he is confessing his sin to God, admitting his failure, and asking that God would revive his soul. Ultimately, when we “cling to the dust” in our own lives, we are committing the sin of idolatry, because we are placing something above God in our lives.

When we acknowledge our sin, confess it to God and repent, our cry to the Lord should include an appeal that our soul would once again find satisfaction in Christ alone. Often, as we are being sanctified, we will “turn to the left and turn to the right,” but the believer cannot and will not remain in that sin. Instead, he will experience conviction in his soul and respond with confession to God and repentance. He will turn away from that sin, leaving it “to the dust,” and he will turn back to Christ. The desperate plea from the soul of the believer is to find joy, delight and satisfaction in the submission to the Word of God. And this is exactly where the psalmist turns.

26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!

There is a conviction of sin in the life of a believer. After we have been “made alive to Christ” (Ephesians 2:4), our “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) is led by the Power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. When our decisions transgress against the Law of God, the Holy Spirit convicts our heart. At this point, we can resist this conviction, and in doing so, we willfully choose idolatry. When this happens, Leviticus 26 lays out the Blessings and the Curses for our life choices.

God answered the prayer of the psalmist with the gift of repentance. And in our penitent heart, God is gracious and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). When we are convicted of our sin, we must realize that even this conviction is the grace of God. He could leave us in our sin, but He chooses not to. He is willing to discipline our spiritual lives, so that we can be made more into the image of the Son of God. And our desire should be to learn the things of God and apply these precepts to our walk with Christ.

27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

“Make me” is a direct command, which is cried out to God, as if to say, “Do whatever it takes to conform my life into the image of Jesus Christ.” And specifically, the psalmist asks to “make me understand the way.” There is a vast difference in knowing about God’s Law and understanding His Law. Any human being can read the Word of God and know the details and specifics of what it says. But only God can open the eyes of the blind to understand Scripture. For the believer, God opens the eyes of their heart to be enlightened to the Truth. The psalmist is asking for God to enlighten his eyes, which will confirm in his heart that God is good. This is important when we are turning away from sin, because it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Acts 2:4).

The psalmist commits to meditate on the Word of God as he understands it more. This is the devotion that we make in our Justification to “love the Lord our God with all of our minds” (Matthew 22:36-40). Instead of focusing on the culture and the world around us, we think on the things of God. We “set our mind” on the Word of God (Colossians 3:2).

28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!

When a believer truly repents of his sins, there is an empty and lowly feeling in his heart. He realizes that his sin was cosmic treason against the King of kings. And the proper response is humility. The psalmist describes this brokenness as his “soul melting away for sorrow.” This “melting away” is the worldly desire to be satisfied by anything that is not of God.

Knowing that he is in a state of weakness, in his broken and contrite heart, the psalmist asked for God to strengthen him. Note that the strength comes in accordance with the Word of God. We can be assured that Scripture is so sufficient, that it is able to strengthen the soul of the believer who has been humbled.

29 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!

The psalmist has a realization that he does not want to go back in the way of his sin. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). The only way to truly overcome sin is by replacing that worldly lust with the satisfying Word of God. For the Christian, this is sufficient. David recalls in Psalm 34:22, “The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” There is hope for those who will put their trust in the Lord.

The mark of a true Christian is not that they feel bad for their sin, but that they are willing to put it away. Colossians 3:5-10 is very clear on the imperative in this nature: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.

The first of three commitments that the believer makes to his God after being forgiven of sin. He says, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness.” This is to choose to turn to the Law of the Lord over his sin. This is to choose righteousness over transgression. This is to willingly and intentionally choose Christ over everything else that this world has to offer.

We must have the Law of the Lord ever before our eyes. There is no other way to ensure that we are walking in His ways, but to consistently be reminded of His precepts. We must trust that the Word of the Lord is totally and completely sufficient for our daily lives.

31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!

The second of three commitments that the believers makes to his God after being forgiven of sin. He says, “I cling to your testimonies.” This is to hold fast to the Truth. This is to be unwavering with his faith. This is to treat the Word of God as precious — more precious than silver or gold. He understands the value that the Law of the Lord brings to his life, and therefore holds tightly, so as to not forget.

The cry to the Lord is that he will “not be put to shame.” This is in reference to both his daily choices and his eternal salvation. Each time we transgress against the Law of God, we are in a state of shame, because we have wronged the Lord our God. As Christians, we made the commitment to “Love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength,” but our sin goes against that promise. Therefore, we are “put to shame.” In the same way, the psalmist references Psalm 25 (verses 2, 20) by pleading for deliverance for his eternal soul. The believer can rest assured that his God will “never leave him, not forsake him” (Hebrews 13:5).

32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

The third commitment that the believer makes to his God after being delivered from sin is that he will “run in the way of” the commands of God. This should be our desire all the day. We should desire to fulfill the instruction in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

As the psalmist concludes the fourth stanza, he petitions that God would “enlarge” his heart. This request is that God would allow his spirit the capacity to find more delight in Christ. He is asking that God would give him the delight of his heart, which should be Christ Himself (Psalm 37:4). This is the only hope that can make your joy complete (John 15:11).

Psalm 119:17-24 continues to search deep into the heart of the matter, regarding a desperate desire to pursue the Word of the Lord. The follower of Christ has a passion to run after Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of his faith (Hebrews 12:1-2), and he can do this by meditating on Scripture day and night (Joshua 1:8-9). Through this stanza, we can once again see that “keeping the Word of the Lord” comes from a heart of love as opposed to a result of obligation. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and we see a genuine love for God from the psalmist.

17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

There is a petition from the psalmist that the Lord his God would “deal bountifully” with him. The request from the psalmist is that God would sanctify his life in accordance with His Word. To “deal bountifully” is to cause growth in the life of the believer, and this is done often times through storms and trials. The psalmist is asking God to do what is necessary to help him rid himself of the world and look more like a child of the King. Note that his request is not timid, but a full request in the most trusting sense. He does not say, “take it slow and easy at my pace.” But instead, the psalmist says, “sanctify my life to the fullest degree,” which would insinuate that the Lord would do this on His timetable.

The reason that the psalmist gives for wanting to be made more in the image of God is so that he “may live and keep” the Word of the Lord. The only way that it is possible for us to live is if we are first “made alive in Christ” (Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 5:1-17). But based upon the previous texts leading into this stanza, we can state with confidence that the psalmist has already been Justified by the grace of God. Therefore, his request that he “may live” is in regards to his manner of walking in accordance with the Word of God. So, we can see that “live” and “keep” join hand in hand for this petition. In other words, to live for Christ is to keep His commandments.

Ultimately, we can see that this stanza begins with a plea to be “conformed into the image of the Son of God” (Romans 8:29), even though the psalmist is looking ahead to the coming Messiah. And our desire, as believers today, should be no different. We should petition that God would “deal bountifully” with us, so that we might “walk in His ways and keep His commandments.” God “deals bountifully” with His servants in many capacities. We can see this through hardship, pain, struggle, sickness. We can also see this in victory, rejoicing, prosperity and success. After the new birth, the believer is being sanctified to one day be glorified (Romans 8:28-31). And in this sanctification process, we understand that it is only possible by being “washed in the Word” (Ephesians 5:26-27) consistently.

18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

What an amazing request this is from the psalmist! We can see that he has a desperate desire to see and understand the Law of the Lord. He desires that his eyes would be opened to “behold wondrous things” from Scripture. He is following the instructions that we can now see in Proverbs, which is to search for wisdom as if it is hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:1-5). 

Amazingly, the psalmist is not requesting that God speak to him audibly. He understands the sufficiency of Scripture, even in the days when “God spoke to our fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1). He grasps the reality that the Word of the Lord is magnificently written down for His people to see and understand. And not only that, but there are “wondrous things” that we can “behold” by seeking Christ through Scripture. Our desire should be no different than this single petition in this stanza. We should want God to reveal Himself to us through His Word. And Scripture is sufficient to do this.

19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

The psalmist now reminds us that the children of God are just traveling through this world, but the earth is not our home. “For we know that if the tent that is our earth home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). And because of this, the psalmist does not want to live like the world. He doesn’t want to be consumed with the culture. He doesn’t want to follow the patterns of society. Instead, he desires to understands the commands of God, so that he can pattern his life after the culture that he was made to be a part of. In other words, because he is a new creation, he no longer fits into the cultural norms, nor does he desire to live like the world around him. Now, because he has been Justified by God’s Grace, he understands that this world is not his home, and so he is desperate to be made Holy, as His father in Heaven is Holy (Matthew 5:48).

Ultimately, this request points back to verse 17. The psalmist has a desire to be sanctified — to be made more like Christ. And in this petition, he understands that the only way that this is possible is if he knows and understands Scripture. He cries out unto the Lord, “Hide not your commandments from me!” And in saying this, we can learn that the Word of the Lord is sufficient for our sanctification. Our continuous prayer to God should be that He would “enlighten the eyes of our hearts, so that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us” (Ephesians 1:18). 

20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

This has a interesting correlation with Psalm 42:1-2, which says, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” This is referring to the satisfaction that we have in who God is for our lives. In the same way that the water quenched the thirst of the deer who was desperate, so Christ satisfies our soul as nothing else in this world can do.

The psalmist here says that his “soul is consumed with longing for” the precepts of the Lord. In other words, he is desperate to quench his spiritual thirst, and he knows that the only way that this is possible is for more of God Himself. He is “longing for” more of a relationship with the Lord. You can almost sense the anguish in these words, as the psalmist is crying out for more of God!

Note, once again, the sufficiency of the Word of God. The psalmist is not crying out for God to speak a direct new revelation to him in order to be given more of Jehovah. He knows that Scripture, and specifically the precepts of Scripture, are a sufficient source for knowing God more deeply than ever before. And also take note that he desires the Word “at all times” because this is what a follower of Christ realizes, once he has tasted the water. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8). Just as the deer tastes the water and recognizes that there is nothing else in the forest that can quench its thirst like the water does, so the believer tastes the goodness of the Word of God, and no longer searches after anything else. This is because “at all times” Scripture is satisfying to the soul of the Christian.

21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.

The psalmist recognizes the reality that the commands from Leviticus 26 are still in effect. Essentially, when reading this passage, what you will find is that God tells His people if they obey the Law of the Lord, then there will be much blessing. But if they choose to disobey the commands of God, then there will be consequences to their decisions and actions.

Throughout the entire Bible, we can understand that following the commands of God and obeying His Laws will result in blessing for the Christian. Now, defining “blessing” has often been an issue in Christianity, because most people want this to mean financial or earthly prosperity. But the reality of the situation is that “blessing” is an eternal joy that we find in Christ. He is the sufficient blessing for the true follower. We are blessed with Christ, when we obey the commands of God.

As we read verse 21, the psalmist gives us clear understanding that the Lord does, in fact, “rebuke” those who “wander from” the commands of God. Not only is this from an eternal standpoint, where those who reject God will experience His wrath in everlasting torment. But also on this temporary earth, there is “rebuke” by God withholding His blessing from their lives. Again, this blessing is Christ. Oh, what greater rebuke could one experience, but to be without the Hope of Jesus?

22 Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.

In contrast to those who “wander from” the commands of God, the psalmist makes an appeal for the Lord to show grace to the life of a child of the King, because he has “kept” the testimonies. In other words, the writer is asking God to be true to His Word. Because of his obedience, the result of the believer should be much blessing from God. And as mentioned in the previous verse, the blessing is Christ Himself.

Note the plea from the psalmist. He makes a petition that God would remove something from his life. It appears that the writer has been wronged and is asking the Lord to help him to heal past the hurt. All things are in the hands of the Lord, because He is Sovereignly supreme over His entire creation. Therefore, it is rightful that the believer would request that God would protect him.

One of the blessings that we find in obeying the Law of the Lord is that God would be a “shield,” “fortress,” and a “very present help in time of trouble.” It is important to recognize that God did not prevent this “scorn” from happening, because it is apart of the sanctification process. The believer will keep the testimonies of the Lord in times of distress, and there he will find much hope.

23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

The psalmist has been abused by men who are in leadership positions. It is evident that this seeming betrayal caused much spiritual pain in the life of the follower of Christ. But the focus of this petition is not on the accusation of those in the wrong, but on the sufficiency that the believer found in Scripture. It was the Word of God that comforted the downtrodden man. It was the Word of God that acted as a confidant. It was the Word of God that gave wisdom for dealing with the issue and growing.

From these three verses, we can start to view our troubles through the lens of Providence. It is a culmination of the validity of Romans 8:28. “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Even in this seemingly slanderous betrayal, the true follower of Christ is driven to the Word of God. This is the way that we grow in our sanctification. And ultimately, this is the purpose of all of our trials, which are under the control of the Father.

24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

To conclude the stanza, the psalmist points the reader to the only source of hope in times of distress. He makes the declaration that the Word of the Lord brings “delight” to his soul. And more importantly, the believer finds joy in the testimonies of God.

Specifically, in the context of the psalmist, Scripture was the counselor through the issues regarding those who sought to destroy his life by plotting against him and slandering his name. When this trouble came into his life, the disciple focused his attention on the Word of God. This, once again, proves the sufficiency of Scripture, even in the times of the Prophets. The psalmist did not seek new revelation for counsel, but instead, saw the current Law of the Lord as a “lamp to his feet and a light to his path.”

We must understand that Scripture is enough for our sanctification. After we have been Justified by the grace of God, we are able to grow spiritually by walking in the Law of the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives us conviction to abide in the Son, and He enlightens the eyes of our heart in such a way that we can understand the meaning of Scripture. It is with this wisdom that we can grow in the “knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We must continue to “walk by faith and not by sight,” and this is only possible when we trust the sufficiency of the Word of God.

Many people profess to believing in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but do not have an actual understanding of the Gospel. There is great concern in “American Christianity” that a large number of individuals have fallen into “easy believism” or a form of “lordship gospel,” misunderstanding the Truth of Scripture. In order to be saved from the wrath of God by the grace of God, you must profess Jesus Christ and trust Him. Just as Noah and Abraham, you must believe God.

Recognize and Ascribe Glory to the One True God
Psalm 99 declares that "The Lord our God is Holy! ... Holy is He!" Isaiah 6 helps us to understand that we are to see the Lord our God as "seated on His throne" and "high and lifted up."

The Gospel of Jesus Christ must begin by understanding that God is Holy, Perfect, Pure and Righteous. And there is an infinite chasm between the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. We must have a high view of our Lord and Savior. We must lift our eyes to see the Glory and the Majesty of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

The Gospel begins with a correct understanding of the Holiness of God. The understanding that “the Lord our God He is God and there is no other.” The Gospel must begin with the fact that all of the universe is dependent upon the God of Creation and the fact that He is dependent on nothing and no one. We must recognize Him in His Holiness. We must see Him as “High and Lifted Up,” understanding that He is way beyond us. It is for each us to submit to Jehovah God as Lord of all. It is for us to recognize that when God preached to Moses, He proclaimed His own name and that was a sufficient sermon.

We must acknowledge His Sovereignty over all of the earth and His supremacy over all of creation. The Lord our God is Sovereign over all time and space and matter. The Lord our God reigns supreme over His creation. He is Holy! Perfect! Pure! Glorious!

The Biblical Gospel necessitates that we have a proper understanding of God’s Holiness. We must know His Holiness and respond to His Holiness. To be a follow of Christ, our response must be like Isaiah. We must recognize God for Who He is and put Him in His rightful place.

Understand the Sinfulness of Sin Within Man
Ephesians 2:1-3 explains that we are born "dead in our trespasses and sins." This sin causes us to be separated from God. The One, True, Holy God cannot have a relationship with us, when we are in sin. And there is nothing that we can do to work our way out of our sinful state.

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God." Romans 3:10 explains, "There is none righteous, no not one." And Romans 6:23 concludes that "the wages of sin is death." You see, because of our sin, the just and right punishment is that of eternal damnation.

God is Holy, and we are not. God is perfect and demands perfection. He will not let anything enter His presence that is not Holy.  And the law demands perfection. And we cannot be perfect, because we are born sinners. And this is where the problem rests.

This leaves all of mankind with an incredibly dire situation. We must be Holy to know God, and we cannot be Holy on our own. We cannot achieve perfection on our own. It doesn’t matter how many times you go to church. It doesn’t matter how much money you give to charity. It doesn’t matter how many “good things” you do according to man’s standards. There is no amount of works that you can do to achieve a right standing with God. We are totally and completely dependent on Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We cannot achieve a righteousness on our own.

The severity of the situation is that without Christ you are enemies with God. And until you are reconciled to Him, then your eternity is damned for eternity in the Lake of Fire. Until you recognize His Holiness and submit to His supremacy, then you are “following the prince of the power and the air,” “a son of disobedience” — you are “just like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

We are 100% dependent on Jesus Christ and His righteousness. All we have is Christ. There is nothing else in this world that can save us. There is no other religion that can reconcile your dead soul to a Holy God. This dire situation should cause one reaction  in your life. You should say, “Woe is me!” You should say, “I am a man of unclean lips.” You should respond to this fact with a penitent heart.

Repentance is the only response that one can have to be reconciled to God. You must first realize the Holiness of God. Then you must realize the demands of God that in order to have a relationship with Him, in order to spend eternity in Heaven, you must be Holy. And you cannot be Holy on your own. You cannot be perfect on your own. And this should drive you to repentance.

Believe in the Perfect Atonement, the Precious Blood of Christ
Praise God because He sent His One and Only Son to die this death that we deserved (John 3:16). Romans 5:6 explains, "For while we were still weak (meaning, "dead in our trespasses and sins"), at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." It continues to verse 8 to say, "but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Jesus Christ came to this earth, was born of a virgin (so as to not be born dead in His trespasses and sins), lived a perfect life and died the perfect death. His perfect sacrifice for our sins was the definite atonement, which made it possible for our sins to be forgiven. It was Jesus Christ alone that could be the spotless lamb to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

“6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)

This is one of the most precious passages in the entire Bible, and it explains to us that God sent His Son “while we were yet sinners.” Meaning, that we did not do anything to deserve or to earn Jesus Christ. God sent His Son to die for us.

This is the perfect substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Because of our sin, we deserved to suffer the punishment of eternal damnation. We deserved to experience the wrath of God poured out on us. But Jesus Christ was the perfect atonement for our sins.

On the cross, two things happened that are extremely important for us to understand:


Put Your Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ Alone That You Might Be Made Pure
We praise God because Jesus did not stay dead. Three days after He was buried, He rose from the grave, proving that He was truly the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He then ascended to His Father and is seated at the right hand of the Throne of God.

The wrath of God was satisfied with the death of Jesus. On the cross, all of the sins of His children were imputed to Him, and the wrath of God was poured out on that sin. At the same time, the righteousness of Christ was imputed to His children, and we are covered by His righteousness.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). This means that because of the sacrifice and the resurrection of Christ, we can now have a relationship with God. This is available through Faith alone in Christ alone only because of God's Grace alone. It is by God's Grace that we are "made alive in Christ" (Ephesians 2:4) through Faith.

You can repent of your sins and God is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). You can be made pure -- “as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).

If you are reading this now and you have been Reconciled to God, then you must understand that this was a work of God! You were dead, but God made you alive in Christ! For by God’s Grace we are saved through faith!

If you are reading this and you have not been reconciled to God, then you must understand that you can be! God has provided the instrument of faith alone as the means to be saved from His infinite wrath. If you will recognize His Holiness, understanding the infinite chasm between His Holiness and your sinfulness… If you will realize that it is your sin that put Jesus Christ on the cross… If you will submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ… If you will surrender your life to Jesus Christ… If you will repent of your sins… And if you will put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior… then you will be saved! (Romans 10:9)

Psalm 119:9-16 continues with an even deeper desire to pursue Christ in His Word. The psalmist understands that his only hope in finding joy in this life is by abiding with and walking in the Word of God. As we see in Psalm 119:1-2, there is much blessing to be found in keeping the commands of God.

The outline of this stanza is similar to verses 1-8. There are declarations of fact made about God, which are followed by commitments from the psalmist. Verses 9-12 are declarations about the Greatness, Trustability and Joy found in the Word of God. Verses 13-16 are commitments to walking in a manner that is worthy of the calling to which we have been called. When we recognize the Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, this should always result in conviction to conform your life to be more like Him.

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

The palmist begins this stanza with the understanding that we cannot pursue Holiness outside of the Word of God. We are commanded by God to “Be Holy” for He is Holy, and this is only possible by living our life according to the Word of God. Often this verse is used in accordance with “sexual purity,” which is not wrong, but it is short-sighted. Any sort of sin against God is an impure act of the will — not just sexual sins. As we are in our sanctification process, we still struggle with gossip, anxiety, coveting, idolatry, anger, obscene talk and lying. All of these things are impure. And the psalmist reminds us that as we learn what it means to “put off the old self” and to “put on Christ,” we must guard our lives according to His Word. Simply put, if we walk in the way of the Lord, then our decision-making will reflect that.

10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

The psalmist is pleading with the Lord to “let me not wander from your commandments.” Understanding that there is no hope outside of the commands of God, the psalmist is making a declaration that the Word of God is trustworthy. He understands that on this path that we are to walk as believers, it is the Word of God which shines light on his direction. Notice that it is imperative to seek God with your “whole heart.” If you are not seeking God with your whole heart, then you will continue to wander away from the commands of God. 

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Once again the psalmist is proving that the Word of God is trustworthy. It is worthy of being trusted. This idea of “storing up your Word” has to do with meditating on and memorizing Scripture. This verse is John 14:26 in action — “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring your remembrance all that I have said to you.” When we memorize Scripture (store it up in our heart), then the Holy Spirit will bring that Scripture to our mind as we are walking daily. This is how we continue to Walk in Wisdom.

12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!

The psalmist says that there is much joy in the Lord. Then he asks God to “teach” the commands of the Lord to him. We understand that this teaching is done through God’s Word. God has spoken. And if we want to know more about the attributes of God, we will find them in His Word. If we want to know about the character of God revealed to us, we can find this in His Word. If we want to understand the purpose of life, we can find this in His Word. All that we need to know to accomplish the will of God for our lives is found in the Bible. The Word of God is sufficient for our sanctification.

13 With my lips I declared all the rules of your mouth.

The psalmist moves to his response to the facts above. Because the Word of God is Holy and Trustworthy, and because there is much joy found in the blessings of God, the psalmist will herald the Truth. When you are reading and studying the Bible, there is but one reaction and it is to be an Ambassador for Christ. When your life has truly been transformed by the Gospel, there is an urgency inside of you to make God known.

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

As opposed to veering off of the path that is provided to us by the Word of God, the psalmist seeks to guard his life according to the Word of God. We understand from Psalm 1 that there are two options: Walk/Stand/Sit with the sinner or Delight in the Word of God. Those are the options that we find in this life. There is more delight to be found in the Word of God than what any amount of riches can afford you. Choose to find joy and satisfaction in the commands of God.

15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

Because of the Truth found in the Word of God, the psalmist commits to meditating on the precepts of God. We can see this command to God’s people in Joshua 1:6-9 (as well as all over Exodus and Deuteronomy). And then he says that he will “fix his eyes on your ways.” Notice the similarities to verse 6, “having my eyes fixed on your commandments.” To “fix your eyes” on the ways of God is to be resolved before you even begin walking. This is to “set your mind on the things that are above” (Colossians 3:2). 

16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Note the last two verses in this stanza are the commitments that are made as a result of recognizing the King of kings. The psalmist is saying “I will” do the following things because God has changed his life. Not only will he “meditate” and “fix his eyes” on the way of the Lord, but he says that he will “delight in” and “not forget” the Word of the Lord. The point here is that before the believer begins to walk, he is resolved to “meditate” and to “fix his eyes” on the Lord and continue walking with his eyes on Christ. And this will bring much “delight” to the believer, which will be a conviction for him to “not forget” the ways of the Lord as he is tempted to turn to the left or turn to the right (verse 10).

Our church has spent a significant amount of time studying the Qualifications of the Overseers, which is established in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. As we have looked through these verses, we have understood that these "qualifications" are but expectations that God has set forth for every Christian life. In other words, what is laid out in this passage is, what we call, "The Standard of Christian Living." As Christians, we are to live in such a way that "upholds the Law" (Romans 3:31). After all, we are "children of God" (Romans 8:16-17), and if we are His children, and He is our God, then we must "be Holy as He is Holy" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

As you look through this list of qualifications, which the Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy and the Church in Ephesus, there should be nothing in this passage which the true Christian does not aspire to exhibit in his own life. Every element of this passage can directly apply to each individual Christian, and should challenge our faith to "walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling to which we have been called."

• Umbrella For All Categories: "Above Reproach"
• Biblical Self-Government
  • Sober-minded
  • Self-controlled
  • Respectable (also, "orderly")
  • Hospitable
  • Able To Teach
  • Not A Drunkard
  • Not Violent
  • Gentle
  • Not Quarrelsome
  • Not A Lover Of Money
• Family Life
  • Manage Family Well
  • Keep Children Submissive With All Dignity
  • Care For Family
• Church Life
  • Care For God's Church
  • Not A Recent Convert (newly planted tree)
  • Spiritually Mature
  • Humble
• Life Outside The Church
  • Well Thought Of By Outsiders (same person inside the church as he is outside the church)
  • Willing Heart For Evangelism

My hope and prayer is that each member of our church has been as convicted as I have about The Standard of Christian Living. Specifically, the reality and necessity of making sure that your life is in order ('respectable' in 1 Timothy 3:2). This is probably this most significant element of the study that I have learned. If your life is not in order, according to what is laid out for us in this passage, then you will not be in the will of God. More than this, there are two warnings given (1 Timothy 3:6-7), which should make us consider each step that we take in ministry. This process explains that when you are sober-minded (1 Timothy 3:2) then this will lead to being self-controlled (1 Timothy 3:2). And that self-control will produce the fruit of prioritizing your life in accordance with God's will. And the will of God for the life of a believer is that he would prioritize his life according to the layout that is found in 1 Timothy 3:2-7. That is, for each individual Christian to exhibit Biblical Self-Government (category 1), Maintain Well Managed Families (category 2), Develop Spiritual Maturity As We Serve The Church (category 3) and Have A Willing Heart To Be An Evangelist (category 4).

As you begin to truly take a look at your own personal life in this regard, the natural process of sanctification will be present in your mind. There will be a natural chiseling that will occur. And things of this world will begin to grow strangely dim as you begin to realize that the parts of your life that used to matter, just simply do not matter anymore.

Two essentials must take place at this point:

1) A Humbling of your heart, which will lead to repentance.

2) A Resolve to walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15-17) in making the determination of what needs to be chiseled away in your life.


1) The first thing that must take place is a Humbling of your heart, which will lead to repentance. This comes with conviction of the Holy Spirit after examining your newly prioritized life in accordance with the Word of God in comparison to how your life operated in the past. You will feel guilt. You will sense Godly sorrow. You will almost feel obligated to apologize to other people for things you have said or believed which just were not true. This is a humiliating (as in humbling) process. And we need this for our sanctification.

God's goodness leads us to this point. And we would do well to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) to be Holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:3-6). With this contriteness of heart comes a newfound joy and delight in the things of God.

As 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 expresses, we are not made for this world. Our home is with Christ. And we must strive to be clothed with His Righteousness and not clothed with the temporary things of this world. In other words the things of this world will grow strangely dim and you will begin to reallocate your spiritual and physical assets (which are given to you by God) in such a way that most glorifies your Lord and Savior.

2) Secondly, you must be Resolved to walk circumspectly and make the determinations of what needs to be chiseled away in your life. This takes much wisdom. This takes much prayer. You ask yourself questions like: Is this of God or have I convinced myself for the past years that this is a holy/good thing? Or you might say: This is a good thing, how could it be needing to be chiseled away? And it will take much discernment.

What we have to remember at this point is that God does not need your job, your assets or your abilities in order to accomplish His will. He is not after what you provide to this world. He wants your whole heart. He wants your undivided attention. He wants you to come to the resolution that your ONLY Hope is found in Him. He wants you to realize that He has exclusive rights to your newfound joy and delight. It is the will of God to give you the newfound desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4), so that you will begin to be passionate about what He is passionate about.

Conclusion
You may be sitting there trying to make the determinations of how to walk through the humbling process or walking circumspectly. And a lot of times it can be overwhelming. But let me encourage you with something. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

It is the will of God for the believer to walk through this process. It is the will of God for every Christian to be humbled and chiseled away until he looks like Christ in a glorified state. God Himself, has prepared you for this very thing. And He has given to you the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter and to convict you through Scripture throughout this entire process.

Because of this, take courage! And walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:6-7).

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible (176 verses) and the entire poem is about the Word of God. In this chapter, there are many instructions to the believer, but none more emphatic than for the follower of Christ to “walk in the ways of the Lord.” And to do this, the believer must walk in accordance to the instructions of the Word of God.

The most often asked question from a church member to his pastor is this: “How do I know what the will of the Lord is for my life?” And the answer is very easy. The will of the Lord for every believer is to “walk in the Law of the Lord” (vs 1). We get so caught up with this world and its expectations of us that we forget the simplicity of reading the Bible and obeying its content. This is what God has commanded us to do. Paul says, “walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). We see from the very first chapter of Ephesians that this “calling” is to “be holy for God is holy” (1Peter 1:16). And according to Psalm 119, the way that the believer pursues Holiness is through the Word of God.

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

Psalm 119 begins the same way that Psalm 1 begins, and that is by defining how one is “blessed” by God. To be “blessed” is to find eternal joy in Christ as opposed to temporal happiness on this earth. And those who walk in accordance to the Word of God will find much blessing on this earth. According to Ephesians 1:3-4, the believers have been purpose to be “holy and blameless before God.” And the way that we do this is through the consistent “washing of the Word” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

The psalmist goes further to explain here that “blessing” does not follow one who follows rules. Keeping the Word of God and abiding in His Word is not about following rules. “Walking in a manner that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called” is the natural byproduct of “seeking God with your whole heart.” This is what is described in Psalm 1:1-3 as “Delighting in the Law of the Lord and meditating on it day and night.” 

3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

Continuing with the idea of how to be “blessed,” the psalmist says that “blessing” follows him who does “no wrong, but walks in his (God’s) ways.” This does not mean that we are going to be sinless on this earth. The psalmist is not describing a scenario where someone can be perfect on this earth. We are born sinners (Ephesians 2:1-3). And we are only made alive by the Grace of God through Faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9). But the idea here is that the “blessed man” is the one who “keeps the testimonies” of God, loves God with “his whole heart” and pursues the Holiness of God. The compare/contrast statement made here is “walking in his ways” versus doing “wrong.” This should make it clear for us to understand that pursuing righteousness is being in the Word of God.

4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.

The psalmist recognizes that God has commanded that the believers keep His Word “diligently.” The only way that we can do this is by “delighting” and “meditating” on the very words of God. As we can see here in verse 4, this is not optional. It is “commanded” by God to His people.

5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

The psalmist shifts gears to making a personal application. He is saying, “Because I am a believer, and because this is what you have commanded and because I want to seek you with my whole heart, then please let my ways be steadfast in keeping your Word.” This should be our desire daily. When we understand the imperative form of God’s expectation of us, we must say, “Oh that my ways would be pleasing to You, O God!”

6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

In 1 John 2:28, we can better understand the “shame” referred to here is in regards to the second coming of Christ. When Christ returns to receive those whom are His, those that have not trusted Him as Lord and Savior will “be put to shame” for all of eternity. But the psalmist makes it clear that those who trust in the Lord will not be “put to shame” because their eyes have been fixed on the eternal joy that has been set before them.

7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.

Notice that after the commitment made from the psalmist in verse 5, there comes a resolved heart. Three times the psalmist says, “I shall… I will… I will.” And now we can see here in verse 7 that the psalmist can follow through with his commitments when he “learns” and understands the Word of God. A lot of times we have great intentions to follow God, but we do not pursue Him according to His Word. And when this happens, we stray. But the “blessed man” is one who follows God in His Word, keeps His law, delights in His Word and meditates on it day and night.

8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

This stanza ends with a commitment to “keep” the Word of God. And this should be our natural response in understanding that the King has given to us His commands, we are to “walk” in His ways! 

On Friday, August 23 we began our first (of hopefully many) Bible exposition conference. For three evenings, we studied through Romans 5:1-11. It was a joy to open up the Word of God with so many individuals who want to sit under the expository preaching of Scripture.

The focus of this conference was not self-help or entrepreneurial motivation. Instead, we set our attention on the ultimate peace that the believer has with God at his justification. The teaching included going back to Romans 3 and working through Romans 4. We must first realize that it is our sin that puts us at enmity with God before we can understand our desperate need of a Savior. This is explained that “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Just as Abraham was justified by faith alone, so is every follower of Jesus Christ. To be Justified by Faith is to have Peace with God.

On night 1, we looked at the definition of Justification — and ultimately, the necessary redemption for every human who has ever existed. If you do not put your faith in Jesus Christ, then you will never be at Peace with God. You will forever be at enmity. And ultimately, you will experience His eternal wrath.

Night 2 was focused on the idea, “but God showed His love to us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Such an amazing reality of the grace of God. His mercy extends beyond what is even comprehendible for us. The Peace of God is offered to anyone who will repent of their sins, turn to Christ, and trust the Only Way, the Only Truth and the Only Life.

Night 3 centered on the joy that we have because of our Peace. The greatest reality of our salvation is the fact that we can now worship the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The only reason that we are able to love God is because He first loved us — and this is the greatest blessing to the established Peace that a believer now has with God. 

In all, I was very pleased with how the conference went! I believe that we can use that same format for future conferences and it will be a sufficient study. We do not need to focus on man — we need to focus our attention on the glory of God. Biblical exposition points the listener to the Holiness of the Almighty God. When we get a glimpse of His glory, then the reaction of a true believer is that his life will be conformed to the image of the Son of God.